Correlations between exercising arterial blood gas values, tracheal wash findings and upper respiratory tract abnormalities in horses presented for poor performance.
Abstract: There are limited data on the correlations between arterial blood gas (ABG) values, tracheal wash (TW) cytology and upper respiratory tract (URT) abnormalities. Objective: To identify horses with abnormal exercising ABG, and compare the proportions of horses with abnormal ABG and TW cytology, mucus or URT dysfunction with those with normal ABG results and abnormal TW cytology, mucus or URT dysfunction. Methods: Medical records of 813 horses presenting to the treadmill facility that had a complete treadmill examination, including ABG analysis, TW and URT endoscopy were selected. Diagnoses, ABG results, TW cytology and URT endoscopy were compared. Results: Two hundred and eleven horses met the study criteria of a complete treadmill examination and could have ABG evaluated. There were no significant differences in the age distribution of horses having normal and abnormal ABG or upper respiratory tract (URT) examinations. There was a significantly higher percentage of geldings with abnormal ABG analysis. In the horses with abnormal URT examinations, there were no differences in the proportion of horses having mucus vs. no mucus. However, in the horses with normal URT, there were a higher percentage of horses with visible mucus in the group with abnormal ABG analysis. The majority of horses had abnormal TW cytology and evidence of prior EIPH, with no differences in proportions between the groups. Conclusions: Because such a large percentage of horses had evidence of inflammation and/or evidence of prior EIPH on TW cytology, it was not possible to determine the effect of these findings on gas exchange. Mucus was present in a larger percentage of cases with abnormal ABG analysis and normal URT examinations, suggesting that the presence of mucus may affect gas exchange. Standardbreds may be more likely to have abnormal gas exchange than Thoroughbreds. A larger number of horses is needed to determine the significance of these findings. Conclusions: Abnormal TW cytology and endoscopic visualised mucus may contribute to impairment of gas exchange, but they do not specifically predict abnormal ABG analysis.
Publication Date: 2007-04-04 PubMed ID: 17402477DOI: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.2006.tb05598.xGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
Summary
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The research aimed to investigate whether or how the arterial blood gas (ABG) values, tracheal wash (TW) cytology, and upper respiratory tract (URT) abnormalities in horses correlate, with a particular focus on horses showing poor performance. The study suggested that mucus may affect gas exchange, and abnormal TW cytology and mucus observed through endoscopy may potentially impair gas exchange without necessarily predicting abnormal ABG analysis.
Research Methodology
- The study reviewed medical records of 813 horses that underwent complete treadmill examination including ABG analysis, TW, and URT endoscopy.
- The criteria for selection included a complete treadmill examination and viable ABG values for evaluation.
- Further diagnosis, ABG results, TW cytology, and URT endoscopy findings were compared to explore correlations and differences.
Research Findings
- Out of 813, only 211 horses met the set criteria for the study.
- Age did not significantly affect the occurrence of irregular ABG or URT examination outcomes.
- A significantly higher percentage of geldings showed abnormal ABG analysis.
- The presence or absence of mucus did not significantly vary among horses with abnormal URT examinations, whereas in horses with normal URT examinations, a larger proportion of horses with abnormal ABG analysis had visible mucus.
- Most of the horses showed abnormal TW cytology and signs of prior Exercised-Induced Pulmonary Hemorrhage (EIPH) with no difference in proportion between these groups.
Research Conclusions
- A larger proportion of horses had signs of inflammation and/or prior EIPH in their TW cytology, making it difficult to determine the impact of these findings on gas exchange.
- Mucus was more prevalent in cases with abnormal ABG analysis and normal URT examinations, suggesting that mucus might affect gas exchange processes.
- It was suggested that Standardbreds might have a higher likelihood of abnormal gas exchange compared to Thoroughbreds. However, a larger sample size is needed to validate these findings.
- The conclusion drawn was that abnormal TW cytology and endoscopic visualized mucus could contribute to decreased gas exchange, but they did not directly predict abnormal ABG analysis.
Cite This Article
APA
Durando MM, Martin BB, Davidson EJ, Birks EK.
(2007).
Correlations between exercising arterial blood gas values, tracheal wash findings and upper respiratory tract abnormalities in horses presented for poor performance.
Equine Vet J Suppl(36), 523-528.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.2042-3306.2006.tb05598.x Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Clinical Studies, New Bolton Centre, University of Pennsylvania, 382 West Street Road, Kennett Square, Pennsylvania 19348, USA.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Blood Gas Analysis / veterinary
- Exercise Test / veterinary
- Female
- Hemorrhage / diagnosis
- Hemorrhage / physiopathology
- Hemorrhage / veterinary
- Horse Diseases / diagnosis
- Horse Diseases / physiopathology
- Horses / blood
- Horses / physiology
- Lung Diseases / diagnosis
- Lung Diseases / physiopathology
- Lung Diseases / veterinary
- Male
- Mucus / metabolism
- Oxygen Consumption
- Physical Conditioning, Animal / physiology
- Respiratory System Abnormalities / diagnosis
- Respiratory System Abnormalities / physiopathology
- Respiratory System Abnormalities / veterinary
- Sex Factors
- Thoracoscopy / veterinary
- Trachea / cytology
Citations
This article has been cited 3 times.- Lo Feudo CM, Stucchi L, Stancari G, Conturba B, Bozzola C, Zucca E, Ferrucci F. Associations between Medical Disorders and Racing Outcomes in Poorly Performing Standardbred Trotter Racehorses: A Retrospective Study. Animals (Basel) 2023 Aug 9;13(16).
- Lo Feudo CM, Stancari G, Collavo F, Stucchi L, Conturba B, Zucca E, Ferrucci F. Upper and Lower Airways Evaluation and Its Relationship with Dynamic Upper Airway Obstruction in Racehorses. Animals (Basel) 2022 Jun 17;12(12).
- Lendl L, Barton AK. Equine Asthma Diagnostics: Review of Influencing Factors and Difficulties in Diagnosing Subclinical Disease. Animals (Basel) 2024 Dec 4;14(23).
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